A case report of acquired choanal atresia

A case of acquired choanal atresia of unknown origin is reported. A 68-year-old woman had been complaining of nasal obstruction for 28 years. Bilaterally her nasal choanae were found to be completely closed at the depth of the orifice of the eustachian tube. Surgical intervention into the margin of the soft and hard palate removed the adhesive connective tissue from the choanae, which had involved no osseous component. Because part of the intranasal basal epithelium was missing due to surgery, buccal mucosa was removed and implanted to prevent proliferation of granulation. A silicone tube was placed in each choanae for a week postoperatively. An adequate nasal passage has been maintained for 10 months postoperatively, and the patient was followed up closely.